Hi All,
I'm new to this forum and it looks like I'm going to be here a lot. Other forums I've tried don't seem to be very responsive. Well anyway here is one of my questions.
I've had my Consolidated Dutchwest Federal Airtight for about 22 years now and I am very pleased with it. This is the medium size FA264 model that uses a catalytic combustor. I was wondering that if I had to replace this stove should I get a noncat model? I replace my combustor about every 3 or 4 years. I pay about $120.00 for them which I don't consider too bad when I consider the money I'm saving by burning wood, so that to me is not really an issue. The stove itself has been relatively low maintenace. I had to replace the shaker grates and the combustor baffle once. About 10 years ago I totally disassembled the stove to re-cement all of the joints.
Are noncat stoves cleaner? do they put out more heat? Can you maintain a fire in a noncat as long as in a cat stove? I've read in several places that you can have parts of the stove related to the recycling section go bad every 2 or 3 years.
Thanks, Jim
I'm new to this forum and it looks like I'm going to be here a lot. Other forums I've tried don't seem to be very responsive. Well anyway here is one of my questions.
I've had my Consolidated Dutchwest Federal Airtight for about 22 years now and I am very pleased with it. This is the medium size FA264 model that uses a catalytic combustor. I was wondering that if I had to replace this stove should I get a noncat model? I replace my combustor about every 3 or 4 years. I pay about $120.00 for them which I don't consider too bad when I consider the money I'm saving by burning wood, so that to me is not really an issue. The stove itself has been relatively low maintenace. I had to replace the shaker grates and the combustor baffle once. About 10 years ago I totally disassembled the stove to re-cement all of the joints.
Are noncat stoves cleaner? do they put out more heat? Can you maintain a fire in a noncat as long as in a cat stove? I've read in several places that you can have parts of the stove related to the recycling section go bad every 2 or 3 years.
Thanks, Jim